Upper Merion Administrative Offices to Return to 5-Day Work Week

Published Dec 4, 2016 at 9:58 PM

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After about seven years, Upper Merion's administrative offices will return to a five-day work week in January, according to Upper Merion Supervisor Greg Waks.

Over the past seven years, Upper Merion's economy has strengthened, Waks said. The additional revenue the township has received has allowed them to invest in their infrastructure and meet their obligations without raising taxes.

"We hope that this will provide an additional opportunity for our residents to obtain some of the services they might need," Waks said.

Between late 2009 and early 2010, townships needed to crunch their budgets due to the recession, according to Waks. In order to save money, the Board of Supervisors shifted Upper Merion administrative offices to a four-day work week.

Instead of five eight-hour days, employees worked four ten-hour days which allowed the township to save about $25,000 a year in utilities and building maintenance.

While the four-day work week has saved some money, it has not saved as much as originally projected, according to Waks. Waks also said residents who needed to use the administrative offices on Fridays were unable to access them.

For the ease of employees, the township is implementing a Flex Friday schedule allowing employees to have every other Friday off, if they want. Upper Merion Township will also let employees who are scheduled on Fridays "dress down."